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After interviewing Shaylesh Patel last week, I was fired up to find out more about what Healthy Planet are doing, and so it seemed only natural to check out the ‘Stuff for Free’ event on in Acton over the weekend.

After speaking to Shaylesh, I realised that part of what Healthy Planet does is to create special connections between businesses, between people, and between people and the planet. These connections are mutually beneficial.

The ‘Stuff for Free’ project is no different. We all have items (like old TVs, old toasters, old guitars, old clothes, old books, old couches etc…) which lie around unused in our lofts, houses and offices. At the same time we are always on the look out for new treasure, which will enrich our lives in some way.

Who says that business can’t be a great force for good?

The London Waste Authorities have the enormous job of recycling and disposing of our waste. This is not only expensive but takes a huge amount of time and effort to do.

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Healthy Planet and London Waste have teamed up to make the ‘Stuff for Free’ events happen.

Everyone benefits.

Each ‘Stuff for Free’ event has a ‘Give’ day when people can take their unused stuff to a particular venue, and then a ‘Take’ day, when anyone can go along to that particular venue and take away anything that they want.

So, my husband and I went along to the Acton ‘Take’ event to see how it all works, and from what we saw, it all works smoothly and easily. We queued up outside the warehouse, entering one by one, registered for the event, and then we entered the warehouse.

The warehouse was well ordered with everything laid out neatly on the floor, or hung on rails. There were a few people walking around making sure that everything was running well. West London Waste had a stand in the middle of the warehouse giving information on what they are doing and also on practical ways to reduce waste and make stuff last for longer.

Now, my husband and I love books, and we also run Masters and Harris Books, where we sell first editions and other books online. We like the idea of re-homing decent books, rather than them ending up in landfill. So the warehouse was like a treasure trove for us.

From what we experienced and saw the ‘Stuff for Free’ event was a great success for everyone involved.